Author: Monojit Mandal
The controversy has been going on for years: would the Chicago Bulls, led by the iconic Michael Jordan, have won eight consecutive NBA championships if Jordan hadn’t momentarily abandoned the game for professional baseball in 1993? Jordan himself has already spoken out on the subject, offering insights into the team’s chemistry at the time.
Michael Jordan was at his peak in 1993, a basketball superstar at the age of 29. He dominated both offensively and defensively in his final season before his initial retirement, leading the league in scoring and steals. The possibility of the Bulls winning eight titles in a row seemed very close.
However, Jordan recently admitted to Rick Telander in an interview that team relations were not conducive to such an incredible performance. “Winning an NBA title requires everything from a team“said Jordan. “It’s hard to imagine how exhausted the Bulls were after winning three in a row.” In fact, the Bulls faced more internal and external obstacles than ever before in 1992-1993.
Jordan’s retirement in 1993 left a hole that allowed the Houston Rockets, led by Hakeem Olajuwon, to win two consecutive NBA championships. Some thought that if Jordan hadn’t left, the Bulls’ winning streak might have been extended. “People say that if I hadn’t played baseball for a year and a half, we’d be playing for our eighth championship in a row. But I don’t believe that. The team’s attitude was different after our triple conquest“said Jordan.
Jordan’s statement about team chemistry over those years emphasizes the importance of friendship in achieving success. He admitted that his extreme competitiveness and desire to be the best were sometimes difficult to deal with for his teammates. However, he recognized the squad’s need for unity. “In this team, we love each other. “There was no jealousy, animosity or anything,” Jordan said of the 1998 Bulls, nicknamed the “Last Dance”. “Does this team exist elsewhere? In our team, everyone gets along with everyone and can hang out with everyone. And we’re not afraid to draw attention to each other.“
While the hypothetical scenario of eight consecutive championships continues to divide basketball fans, Michael Jordan’s insights into team dynamics and the importance of team unity provide valuable context for understanding the challenges the Chicago Bulls faced during their historic run in the 1990s.